Stacking and nesting container



Sept. 8, 1964 A. R. WATERS STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. 7,0647 WZW BY ()fl w 12%;

Sept. 8, 1964 A. R. WATERS STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. fl/z rci/ z M Sept. 8, 1964 A. R. WATERSSTACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 HIQ IIIIIIL .I II I l.. Winn.. 1..

C51 I I II I I I INVENTOR fl rwi if M2 674 Sept. 8, 1964 A. R. WATERS 3,4

STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 C E EU FJUULJE LJfJCJ-CJ INVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,147,882 STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER Alfred R.Waters, 539 Henley, Birmingham, Mich. Filed Nov. 5, 1962, Ser. No.234,589 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-97) The invention relates to containers andmore particularly to stacking and nesting containers.

It often is desirable to use stackable and nestable containers for thestorage and transportation of goods since such containers enablerelatively large volumes of goods to be handled or stored therein whenthey are stacked one on the other and when the containers are empty theycan be nested in a compact group that is storable in a relatively smallspace.

Such containers should be economical, strong and light weight and ithas, therefore, been found desirable to fabricate such containers fromsuitable plastic materials. Such containers must include means forpreventing buckling thereof when a large number of the containers are ina stacked position. Furthermore, it is desirable that the containers beinterlocked when in a stacked position to eliminate movementtherebetween which might cause one or more of the stacked containers tocollapse on top of the contents of its supporting container.

Accordingly, primary objects of the present invention are to provide animproved container of the type that is associated with one or more likecontainers for stacking or nesting relative thereto; and to provide sucha container having low cost, light weight and good strengthcharacteristics.

Further objects of the present invention are to improve containers ofthe type that can be stacked or nested on a like container by providingmeans on such a container that will engage a like container when thecontainers are in a stacked relationship to positively interlock thecontainers together; and to provide such means including a pad on thebottom of such a container which inserts in an opening in the upperportion of a like container when the containers are in a stackedrelationship.

Still further objects of the invention are to improve a container of thestacking and nesting type by including means thereon that enable such acontainer to be smoothly slid into supported relationship with a likecontainer; and to provide for such smooth sliding in a plurality ofendwise directions.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following description, theappended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a container constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation looking toward the right end of thecontainer in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation looking toward the left end of thecontainer in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view of the bottom of the container illustrated in FIGURE1 with the mid-portion thereof being broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 55 of FIGUREl;

FIGURE 5A is an enlarged view in vertical section of detail 5A in FIGURE5;

FIGURE 6 is a view. in vertical section taken along the line 6-6 ofFIGURE 5A.

FIGURE 7 is a View partially in section and partially in elevation of aplurality of containers of the type shown in FIGURES 1-6 in their nestedpositions;

FIGURE 8 is a view partially in section and partially 3,147,882 PatentedSept. 8, 1964 ice in elevation of a plurality of such containers intheir stacked positions.

Referring now to the drawings, a substantially rectangular container 10is shown that is preferably molded from a plastic material. Thecontainer has a bottom 12 integrally formed with side walls 14, 16 oneither side thereof and with end walls 18, 2 9 on either end thereof.The side walls 14, 16 and end walls 18, 20 are integrally formed at theend edges thereof to form the corners of the container and a continuousflange 22 directed outwardly of the upper edge of each of the side andend walls has a downwardly turned edge 24 thereon for reinforcing thecontainer against buckling and for serving as a carrying handle when thecontainer is moved about.

The bottom 12 of the container is representatively illustrated as beingmolded to have diagonal portions 26 therein directed outwardly thereofto further reinforce the container. Furthermore, the bottom and sidesare representatively illustrated as including a plurality of apertures28 and 30, respectively, for reducing the weight of the container.

Containers having the general configuration of that illustrated in thedrawing have been found unusually Well suited for use in storing ortransporting goods because of their relatively low cost and their goodstrength characteristics and light weight.

Furthermore, the illustrated container is of the type that is adapted tobe either stacked or nested with a like container when it is desired tostore and transport rela tively large volumes of objects within aminimum amount of floor space and when it is desired to have a containerthat can be nested within a like container to save space when thecontainers are not in use. Accordingly, the sidewalls 14, 16 and theopposite end walls 18, 29 of the container are outwardly inclined withrespect to the bottom 12 thereof and the end Walls 18, 20 have supportmeans in association therewith so that a plurality of containers can beeither stacked one on the other or nested within each other dependingupon the end-to-end relation thereof.

More particularly, the left end 18 of the container shown in thedrawings includes a pair of spaced portions 32, 34 directed inwardly ofthe bottom 12 of the container and joined together by a mid-portion 36of the wall that is directed outwardly of the bottom 12. Outwardlydirected portions 38, 40 are formed on either side of the end wall 18for joining the portions 32, 34 to the container sidewalls 14, 16,respectively. The upper edges of the outwardly directed portions 36, 38,40 of the end wall 18 are also integrally formed with the reinforcingflange 22 on the container as best illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Each of the inwardly directed portions 32, 34 of the end wall 18 istapered toward the upper flange 22 on the container where the upper edgethereof is integrally formed with an inverted U-shaped protuberance 42located above the upper flange 22 of the container between the inneredge thereof and the inside surface of the tapered inwardly directedWall portions 32, 34. The protuberance 42 has a recess 44 formed thereinthat faces toward the inside of the container. The recess 44 is in partformed by a shelf portion 46 integrally formed with the protuberance 42and the tapered portions 32, 34. Each shelf 46 also has a slot oraperture 48 formed therein and is representatively illustrated as havinga slight downward inclination from the end Wall 18 in the direction ofthe upper reinforcing flange 22 of its respective adjacent end Wall 18as best illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Side portions 49 of the protuberance 42 form guiding abutments on eitherside of each shelf 46. Ribs 50 formed on the underside of eachprotuberance 42 on either side of the supporting shelf 4-6 extendbetween the underside of the peripheral reinforcing flange 22 and thefront edge of the supporting shelf 46 for reinforcing this portion ofthe container against loads concentrated thereon.

Referring now to the bottom portion of the left end of the container,best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, it can be seen that the bottomedges of the inwardly and outwardly directed portions of the end wall 18are integrally formed with the bottom 12 of the container. Furthermore,each of the outwardly directed portions 36, 38, 40 have a pair ofprojections 52, 54 thereon which are in alignment and directeddownwardly of the bottom surface of the container.

More specifically, each of the projections 52, best shown in FIGURE A,is located adjacent the end wall 18 of the container and is formed as apad having the bottom surface 56 thereof inclined upwardly in thedirection of the end wall 18 of the container from the bottom edge of aninner surface 58 thereon. Each of the projections 54 is located inalignment with one of the projections 52 between it and the opposite endof the container. The projections 54 each have a surface 60 thereonfacing the inner surface 58 of an adjacent projection 52 and includes abottom surface 62 inclined upwardly away from the end wall 18 of thecontainer. The projections 54 serve as supporting feet for thecontainer.

Referring now to the opposite end wall 20 of the container, it can beseen that there are a pair of spaced por tions 64, 66 therein directedoutwardly of the bottom 12 in line with the inwardly directed portions32, 34, respectively, in the end wall 18. Each of the in-line outwardlydirected portions 64, 66 is tapered from the bottom thereof toward theupper end thereof as best illustrated in FIG- URE 2, and has the upperedge thereof integrally formed with the reinforcing flange 22 of thecontainer and has the bottom edge thereof integrally formed with thebottom 12 of the container. A pad 68 and a foot 70 having the samecharacteristics as those formed on the bottom of the opposite end of thecontainer are formed in the bottom 12 adjacent the end portions 64, 66.

There are, in addition, portions 72, 74, 76 in the end wall 20 directedinwardly of the bottom 12 of the container in line with the outwardlydirected portions 36, 38, on the opposite end wall 18, respectively, forjoining the end wall portions 64, 66 to the rest of the container. Eachof the inwardly directed portions 72, 74, 76 has the bottom edgesthereon integrally formed with the bottom 12 of the container, as bestillustrated in FIGURE 2. An inverted U-shaped protuberance 78 isintegrally formed with the upper edge of each of the tapered portions72, 74, 76 at a point above the reinforcing flange 22. Each of theprotuberances 78 has a recess 80 therein facing in the direction of theinside of container 10, formed in part by a shelf portion 82 having aslot or aperture 84 extending transversely thereof and havingreinforcing ribs 86 like the ribs on the opposite end of the container.As was the case in the opposite end wall 18-, the supporting shelves 82on the end wall 20 are downwardly inclined toward the reinforcing flange22 of its respective adjacent end wall 20 of the container and sideportions 85 on the protuberances 78 form guiding abutments on sides ofthe shelf portions 82. The shelf portions 82 will support the bottom ofthe outwardly directed portions 36, 38, 40 on the opposite end of a likecontainer when it is stacked thereon. Similarly, the shelf portions 46on the end wall 18 will support the bottom of the outwardly directedportions 64, 66 in the end wall 20 of a like supported container.

In accordance with certain of the principles of the present invention,the pads 52, 68 on the bottom of either end of one of the improvednesting and stacking containers will fit in the slots 84, 48,respectively, on the top of the ends of a like supporting container whensaid one container is turned end-for-end with respect to the supportingcontainer. The protuberances 42, 78 on either end of the container serveto align the pads as they are inserted into 4- the slots. Once they areinterconnected, the pads and slots will positively interlock thecontainers so that the ends of the supporting container will not pullaway from the ends of the supported container and thereby cause thesupported container to fall off its supporting shelves and crush thecontents of the supporting container.

Furthermore, in accordance with certain other of the principles of thepresent invention, the coacting means on the supporting and supportedcontainers which interlock them together will not interfere with thestacking of one or more of such containers on top of other likecontainers. More particularly, when one of the containers is slid acrossthe top of a like container into supported relationship therewith, asillustrated in FIGURE 8, the inclined bottom surfaces 56, 62 on eitherthe pads 52, 68 or feet 54, 7%) allow the supported container tosmoothly slide across the tops of the end walls of a supportingcontainer until the pads 52, 68 on the supported container are inalignment with the slots 48, 84 in the supporting container and insertedinto interlocking relationship therewith, as discussed above. The feet54, 70 on either end of the bottom of the supported container are shapedto prevent the pads 52, 68 on either end thereof from catching on thereinforcing flange 22 or protuberances 42, 78 raised thereabove nomatter in which endwise direction the supported container is slidinglymoved across the top of the supporting container.

If it is desired to store containers of the above described type, it isonly necessary to put like ends of the containers above one another andnest the containers as shown in FIGURE 7. The outward inclination of theside and end walls and the taper of the concavo-convex portionsdescribed above provides necessary clearance between the containers fornesting. The end walls 18, 20 are bent inwardly as shown at 88 and 90,respectively, in FIGURES 5, 7 and 8 and the containers are supported bythe ribs 50 to prevent jamming together of the containers once they arein their nested positions.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparentto those familiar with stacking and nesting containers, and While itwill be apparent that the embodiment of the present invention hereindisclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention, itwill be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification,variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fairmeaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container stackable on a like container and nestable therein whenturned end-for-end relative thereto comprising:

a bottom,

a first wall attached to said bottom at one edge thereof having at leastone inwardly extending portion and at least one outwardly extendingportion,

a second wall attached to said bottom at an edge thereof opposite tosaid one edge having at least one inwardly extending portion adapted tobe vertically matable with an outwardly extending portion of a firstwall of a like container when turned end-for-end relative thereto andstacked thereunder and at least one outwardly extending portion adaptedto be vertically matable with an inwardly extending portion of a firstwall of a like container when turned end-forend relative thereto andstacked thereunder,

said inwardly extending portions having shelf portions at an upperextremity thereof formed with inclined surfaces that extend upwardly andinwardly from each respective adjacent wall,

said surfaces having apertures formed therein intermediate the sidesthereof,

said apertures having at least one side extending generally parallel tothe respective wall and a pair of ends extending generally perpendicularto the respective wall, and

a plurality of projections vertically aligned with each of 3,147,882 6said outwardly extending portions and depending a plurality ofprojections vertically aligned with each of from said bottom, each saidprojection having a subsaid outwardly extending portions and dependingstantially vertical inner surface for positively enfrom said bottom,gaging one side of apertures of a like container when each saidprojections having a substantially vertical turned end-for-end relativethereto and stacked there- 5 inner surface for positively engaging theone side of on to preclude lateral movement of said projectionsapertures of a like container when turned end-for-end in the aperturesand a pair of end surfaces adapted relative thereto and stacked thereonto preclude to engage the pair of aperture ends of the like conlateralmovement of said projection relative to the tainer to precludetransverse movement of said proaperture and a pair of end surfacesadapted to enjections in the apertures. 10 gage the pair of apertureends of the like container 2. A container stackable on a like containerand nestto preclude transverse movement of said projections able thereinwhen turned end-for-end relative thereto comin the apertures. prising:4. A container stackable on a like container and nesta bottom, abletherein when turned end-for-end relative thereto a first wall attachedto said bottom at one edge thereof having two inwardly extendingportions and at least one outwardly extending portion,

a second wall attached to said bottom at an edge thereof opposite tosaid one edge having at least with inwardly extending portions of afirst wall of a like container when turned end-for-end relatlvecomprising:

a bottom,

a first wall attached to said bottom at one edge thereof having at leastone inwardly extending portion and at least one outwardly extendingportion,

one inwardly extending portion adapted to be vertia second wall attachedto said bottom at an edge therecany Illa-table With an outwardlyextending Portion of opposite to said one edge having at least one inofa first wall of a like container when turned endwardly extending portionadapted to be vertically for-end realtive thereto and stacked thereunderand t bl ith an outwardly extending portion of a at least two outwardlyextending Portions adapied t0 first wall of a like container when turnedend-for-end be Vertically matable With inwardly extending P relativethereto and stacked thereunder and at least tions of a first Wall of alike container when turned one outwardly extending portion adapted to bdlat thereto and Stacked thereunder, tically matable with an inwardlyextending portion of Said inwardly extending Portions having ShelfPortions a first wall of a like container when turned end-forat an ppextremity thereof formed with inclined end relative thereto and stackedthereunder, Surfaces that extend p y and inwardly from said inwardlyextending portions having shelf portions each respective adjacent t atan upper extremity thereof formed with inclined said surfaces havingapertures formed therein intersurfaces h extend upwardly d inwardly frommediate the edges thereof, each respective adjacent wall, said apertureshaving at least one side extending said surfaces having aperturestherein intermediate the erally parallel to the respective wall and apair of edges th r of ends extending generally Perpendicular to therespec' a plurality of projections vertically aligned with each of fiveWall, and said outwardly extending portions and depending a plurality ofprojectionsvertically aligned with each f Said bottom,

of Said Ohtwardly extending Portions and depending said projectionsbeing adapted to positively engage aperfI'Om Said bottom, 40 tures of alike container when turned end-for-end releach Said Projections having asubstantially Vertical ative thereto and stacked thereon to precludelateral inner surface for positively engaging the one side of ortransverse movement f id j ti i the apertures of a like continer whenturned end-for-end apertures relative thereto and stacked thereon topreclude Said projections having an Outer urfa thereon i lateralmovement of said projection relative to the dined upwardly and outwardlytoward i respective aperture and a Pair of end Surfaces aqapted toadjacent wall for smoothly guiding said bottom up gage the P of apertureends of the like container and over the wall of a like supportingcontainer as to preclude transverse movement of said projections saidbottom is slid in one direction across h top of m the aPFrturesthesupporting container, and 3. A container stackable on a like containerand nesta second projection depending f said bottom m l ablg b whenturned endfor'end relatlve them) with said first projection between saidfirst projection comprlslnsr and the opposite respective wall having anouter sur- & bottom, face thereon inclined downwardly and outwardly toafirst wall attached to said bottom at one edge there- Ward itsrespective wall for smoothly guiding id of having two inwardly extendingportions and three bottom up and Over the Wall of a like Supportingoutwardly extendmg P container as said bottom is slid across the top ofthe a second wall attached to said bottom at an edge there Supportingcontainer in a direction opposite to id of opposite to said one edgehaving three inwardly one (region ejltending portions adiPted to.beVertically Ina/[able 5. A container stackable on a like container andnest- Wlth outwardly extending Portlons of first Wall able therein whenturned end-for-end relative thereto coma like container when turnedend-for-end relative thereto and stacked thereunder nad two outwardlyPnsmg: extending portions adapted to be vertically matable a bottom afirst wall attached to said bottom at one edge thereof having at leastone inwardly extending portion and thereto and stacked thereunder, atleast one outwardly exthhdlhg Portion,

said inwardly extending portions having shelf portions a second 3atiachfid to sand bottom at an edge thereat an upper extremity thereofformed with inclined of PP edge havmg at least h surfaces that extendupwardly and inwardly from Wafdly eXtFhdmg POThOh adaptedto he Yeftlcahyh respective adjacent wall, matable with an outwardly extending portionof a said surfaces having apertures formed therein interfirst W of allke contamer when turned end'for'ehd di t th edges th f relativethereto and stacked thereunder and at least said apertures having atleast one side extending genone outwardly exiehdlhgjmhoh p to be Perally parallel to the respective wall and a pair f tically matable withan inwardly extending portion ends extending generally perpendicular tothe reof a first wall of a like container when turned endspective wall,and for-end relative thereto and stacked thereunder,

said inwardly extending portions having shelf portions at an upperextremity thereof formed with inclined surfaces that extend upwardly andinwardly from each respective adjacent wall,

said surfaces having apertures therein intermediate the edges thereof,

a plurality of projections vertically aligned with each of saidoutwardly extending portion and depending from said bottom,

said projections being adapted to positively engage apertures of a likecontainer when turned end-for-end relative thereto and stacked thereonto preclude lateral or transverse movement of said projections in theapertures, and

a protuberance raised above the side walls having side portions formingabutments adapted to engage an outwardly extending portion of a secondside wall of a like container as the like container is slid across saidside walls for guiding the outwardly extending portion into stackedengagement with said inwardly extending portion of said first side wallwhen the container is slid across the top of said plurality of sidewalls.

6. A container stackable on a like container and nestable therein whenturned end-for-end relative thereto comprising:

a bottom,

a first wall attached to said bottom at one edge thereof having at leastone inwardly extending portion and at least one outwardly extendingportion,

a second wall attached to said bottom at an edge thereof opposite tosaid one edge having at least one inwardly extending portion adapted tobe vertically matable with an outwardly extending portion of a firstwall of a like container when turned end-for-end relative thereto andstacked thereunder and at least one outwardly extending portion adaptedto be vertically matable with an inwardly extending portion of a firstwall of a like container when turned endfor-end relative thereto andstacked thereunder,

said inwardly extending portions having shelf portions at an upperextremity thereof formed with inclined 8- surfaces that extend upwardlyand inwardly from each respective adjacent wall,

said surfaces having apertures therein intermediate the edges thereof,

a plurality of projections vertically aligned with each of saidoutwardly extending portions and depending from said bottom,

said projections being adapted to positively engage apertures of a likecontainer when turned end-for-end relative thereto and stacked thereonto preclude lateral or transverse movement of said projections in theapertures,

said projections having an outer surface thereon inclined upwardly andoutwardly toward its respective adjacent wall for smoothly guiding saidbottom up and over the wall of a like supporting container as saidbottom is slid in one direction across the top of the supportingcontainer,

a second projection depending from said bottom in line with said firstprojection between said first projection and the opposite respectivewall having an outer surface thereon inclined downwardly and outwardlytoward its respective wall for smoothly guiding said bottom up and overthe wall of a like supporting container as said bottom is slid acrossthe top of the supporting container in a direction opposite to said onedirection, and

a proturberance raised above the side Walls having side portions formingabutments adapted to engage an outwardly extending portion of a secondside wall of a like container as the like container is slid across saidside walls for guiding the outwardly extending portion into stackedengagement with said inwardly extending portion of said first side wallwhen the container is slid across the top of said plurality of sidewalls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A CONTAINER STACKABLE ON A LIKE CONTAINER AND NESTABLE THEREIN WHENTURNED END-FOR-END RELATIVE THERETO COMPRISING: A BOTTOM, A FIRST WALLATTACHED TO SAID BOTTOM AT ONE EDGE THEREOF HAVING AT LEAST ONE INWARDLYEXTENDING PORTION AND AT LEAST ONE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION, A SECONDWALL ATTACHED TO SAID BOTTOM AT AN EDGE THEREOF OPPOSITE TO SAID ONEEDGE HAVING AT LEAST ONE INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION ADAPTED TO BEVERTICALLY MATABLE WITH AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF A FIRST WALLOF A LIKE CONTAINER WHEN TURNED END-FOR-END RELATIVE THERETO AND STACKEDTHEREUNDER AND AT LEAST ONE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION ADAPTED TO BEVERTICALLY MATABLE WITH AN INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF A FIRST WALL OFA LIKE CONTAINER WHEN TURNED END-FOR END RELATIVE THERETO AND STACKEDTHEREUNDER, SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTIONS HAVING SHELF PORTIONS AT ANUPPER EXTREMITY THEREOF FORMED WITH INCLINED SURFACES THAT EXTENDUPWARDLY AND INWARDLY FROM EACH RESPECTIVE ADJACENT WALL, SAID SURFACESHAVING APERTURES FORMED THEREIN INTERMEDIATE THE SIDES THEREOF, SAIDAPERTURES HAVING AT LEAST ONE SIDE EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THERESPECTIVE WALL AND A PAIR OF ENDS EXTENDING GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TOTHE RESPECTIVE WALL, AND A PLURALITY OF PROJECTIONS VERTICALLY ALIGNEDWITH EACH OF SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTIONS AND DEPENDING FROM SAIDBOTTOM, EACH SAID PROJECTION HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL INNERSURFACE FOR POSITIVELY ENGAGING ONE SIDE OF APERTURES OF A LIKECONTAINER WHEN TURNED END-FOR-END RELATIVE THERETO AND STACKED THEREONTO PRECLUDE LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PROJECTIONS IN THE APERTURES AND APAIR OF END SURFACES ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE PAIR OF APERTURE ENDS OF THELIKE CONTAINER TO PRECLUDE TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID PROJECTIONS INTHE APERTURES.